The tired assertion that America "supports democracy" in the Middle East is increasingly transparent. It was false 50 years ago, when we supported and funded the hated Shah of Iran to prevent nationalization of Iranian oil, and it’s false today when we back an unelected military dictator in Pakistan- just to name two examples. If honest democratic elections were held throughout the Middle East tomorrow, many countries would elect religious fundamentalist leaders hostile to the United States. Cliché or not, the Arab Street really doesn’t like America, so we should stop the charade about democracy and start pursuing a coherent foreign policy that serves America’s long-term interests.

Exactly!

I am merely a simple blogkeeper, but four years ago, when the USA rolled into Baghdad, I remember thinking, "Arright, OK, well, now they're have an election and I guess since most of those people are Shiites, they're gonna elect Shiites and ... hey, wait a minute, aren't the Shiites the one's runnin' I-ran, and don't they hate us?"